MPS Discipline Check List

Collective information, regardless of source, indicates that for every "simple" solution, success doesn't come with the idea, it comes with the delivery.  Here’s a brief list on MPS methodology and disciplines to keep in mind:

MPS Disciplines:

• Gather Data
• Align Sponsorship
• Project management/planning
• Develop Policies & Governance
• Constant Change management
• Operational Efficiency and Effectiveness

Every company's journey to MPS will be different, but the most common path briefly explained below will give an overview of what lies ahead.

Gathering data:
It's important to Identify: Who pays for print? Who cares about these costs? How you will reduce their expenses?

If you have no idea how many printers are in an environment or how much they were costing a client to print, deploy something to track network print. Leverage purchasing data by looking at paper, toner, service contracts, and how many printers are bought/buying.

Align Sponsorship:
This needs to be done at the highest possible level, get executive buy in where possible.

Actionable Plan:
You can't optimize your environment overnight; it's going to take time. Consider defining the scope; be it all enterprise locations over 50 associates and, depending on client, keep local printers OUT OF SCOPE.

Managed Print is often about trade-offs. By optimizing the client’s other devices first, you could have a well-managed, highly productive alternative to local devices.

Policies and Governance:
Communicate policies and ensure strong governance; consider piloting MPS in executive areas first, which provides some amount of risk, but reward can be significant. When executives share the success of MPS, they lend their support more readily to enforce other policies set in motion from the solutions provider, etc.

Manage The Change:
The most common mistake in managing change is underestimating the power of people in impacting success, especially in the client’s environment. Focus on simplicity.  Communicate on how MPS will simplify the way their employees interact with devices.

Operational Efficiency and Effectiveness:
One of the key elements is providing an enhanced and proactive servicing plan to manage the devices, including resolving incidents as quickly as possible. Ensure that toner is replaced proactively. Ongoing metrics help prevent misuse, provide user's education on print expenses, and ensure the print environment stays and continues to be optimized.